Transmission of power.



P. M. ASHLEY. TRANSMISSION OF POWER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1902.

Patented 001;. 6, 1908.

FRANK M. ASHLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRANSMISSION OF POWER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

I Application filed November 26, 1902. Serial No. 182,965.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. ASHLEY, a-

' citizen of the United States,'and aresident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transmission ofPower, of which the following is a specification.

My invention in the transmission of power relates generally to thatclass wherein the ower of a rime mover is adapted to be exibly applied to the kinetic instrumentalities of the transmission system at varying degrees of acceleration and more particularly to a system of PQWGI'tIZtIlSHllSSlOI]. wherein the reservation of uniformity in the motion of t e prime mover is adesideratuni.

The prime object of the invention is to devise a means for advantageously utilizing as a prime mover, a thermodynamic machine of the first order, whereby power derived from the same may haveits range of motion va-, ried within wide limits commensurate with its initial effort to start into a state of motion under a load, and to this end, I have directed my attention particularly to prime movers involving -the internal combustion principle embraced in that class of motors known as explosive engines as aetype of motor possessing perhaps characteristic features which render it more self contained or portable than any of the prime movers known in the art of mechanical engineering. These classes of motors, however, are conservative in their operation. They do, not favor any considerable-fluctuation in the speed of the crankv shaft, they require to be started by some contributory means and do not start therefore, under a load. In considering the attending disadvantages of these operating conditions, which require to be observed in the utility of motors of this character, I have considered the part which a secondary motive power apparatus might play when suit ably disposed in effecting a somewhat wide range 0 flexibility in the transmission of such conservative power to the different kinetic instrumentahties upon which a vary.- ing ower, such for examp e as that're uired intie propulsionof vehicles, would e an imperative feature and to this end, I have succeeded in devising a transmission for the power of a prime mover, which consists in impressing u on' a liquid, an elastic tGIlSlOII through an e.astic"medium by transmitting the energy of the, prime mover through the the suction same and then in energy of the liquid by-permitting its escape "through that character of a motor wherein considerable liberality in its angular velocity and torsional effort isa'. feature. Motors of the character of turbine, impact wheels or velectrodyiiainic machines are characterized by these features. v

In carrying my invention into practice, I have illustrated in the side elevational view,

a motor vehicle having a motive'power apliberati'ng this potential paratus according to my invention depicted in Figure 1-, while in Fig. 2, I have shown the general arrangement of the parts involved in my improved system of power transmission,

in plan. In Fig. 3, I have illustrated diagrammatically, a means whereby the control of the hydrostatic fluid may be readily effected when considered in connection'with the descriptive matter in this specification to be hereinafter referred to. Fig, 4 is a detail sectional elevation of one form of safety or relief'valve.

In considering the different instrumentalities illustrated -in the figures aforesaid, A, A, denote two of the usual type Ofilltfirnal combustion motors set in reciprocal positions with their crank centers one hundred.

and eighty degrees apart.

B a hydraulic pump having its suction ends I), connected with the cooling-jacket C,

C", ofthe aforesaid combustion motorsand supply tank D. The 'ump B bein connected with the power-s aft of the sai combustion motors, is of that type known as a rotary screwepump, though any suitable form of hydraulic. pump would answer equally as well, and upon the same being rotated by the operation of the combustion motors A, A, the water or other liquid contained in the tank D, would be drawn normally through the pipe connections to cooling-jacket C and pipe connection branched to cooling-jacket (1..

The pump B may be of the type shown in patent to W; E. Quimby, No. 529,837, dated Nov. 27, 1894, and needs illustration herein.

The circulation pf Water taken from the sup ly tank D, through the cooling-jacket C, 6 by their pi e connections, willbe into i e and thence delivered by way of the db ivery-pipe d, to the pressuretaiikoiaccumulator E.-

no detailed In order to create a pressure of an elastic nature within the accumulator E, I provide combustion motors A, A,

a bell F for containing a qluantity of air, and pump B, will compress t e air contained in the bell F and upper part of the accumulator so as to re-act upon the water contained in the accumulator E, after the stop-valve d, which commands the delivery of the pump B, has been shut off. It is obvious, however, that as long as the pump continues to operate so as to force the liquid into the accumulator E against the pneumatic pressure contained within the bellF and its concomitants, or that surplus of air which might'be contained above the water level in the accumulator E, energy developed by the operation of the will be accumulated in the tank E. The tank E, or accumulator, and the bell F, therefore, constitute a-secondary power accumulator, absorbing its energy from the combustion motors A, A. As a secondary motor, to which power is transmitted to the axle G, of the vehicle, I employ a number of impact water-wheels g, g, g, g, operated by 'ets emanating from the nozzles h, h, h, and controller H. The arrangement of these jets is with respect to the controller,

such as to constitute a sto -cock whereby, upon the rotation of the cy indrical cock H by the lever H, the jets are sucessively brought into independent communication with the accumulator by means of the connection I after the manner of the usual sto -cock.

' he apertures for the several nozzles extenddiametrically through the cylindrical cock H, and are in a diagonal series so that a limited turning of the cock in the appro-- riate direction will establish communication between the nozzle h, and'the accumulator E; a further limited turning movement will cut-ofi the communication just described; and establish onebetween the nozzle h, and said accumulator and so on successively with respect to the nozzles h, h The diagram, Fig. 3, respresents the relative positions of the apertures i, i, 1), 11, in the cock H, and provide for the four nozzles h, h,,respectivel the pxosit'lons of which latterare indicate by t e smaller dotted circles, there beingno suchcircle for the nozzleh, for the reason that the latter is obscured by the reg- K istering position ofthe apjgrl'ture '5, provided therefor; The larger full e circle't desi nates the aperture for the reversin nozz e j, the relation of which is indic'at by the contiguous larger dotted circle. 7

It will be observed by the arrangement of the nozzles aforesaid, that the impact wheels, g, g, etc., may be made operative independently whereby those of the larger diameter, such as 9, may be employed when aconsiderable amount of torque is required with a corresponding diminution in angular velocitywhile the smaller im act, wheel g, may

be utilized to the exclusion ofthe -remaining 'vide a reversing nozzle which conveys a {ct wheels when high angular velocity is a desideratum regardless of torque. it will be observed thus far that the operation of the secondary motor, comprising the aforesaid impact wheels, has but a uni-directional motion and in order to reverse the motor, I proof water under pressure from theaccumu ator E against the large reversing impactwheel j, so as to operate the same in a reverse direction. In the event of the coolingjackets (J, C having a greater circulation of water through them than that which is necessary to maintain the proper working, temperature for the combustion motors A, A I provide a by-pass connection K and stopvalve therefor, whereby communication be tween the suction connection I) of the pump and the tank D may be established direct and by throttling the su ply of water from the tank D, as it passes t irough the by-pass connection K by means of the aforesaid stopvalve, I am enabled to regulate the flow of water through the water jackets C .t ogether. For inde endent regulation for either the water-j ac et G or the water-iacket C, I provide two throttling or stop-va ves Ir,

7c and by this arrangement of pipe connec tions and valves for the suction connection-b, I am enabled to control the circulation of water through both of the water jackets C, C, together or independently.

When the primary and secondary )ower system is operating under normal con itions of load, that is when the secondary motords absorbing energy fromthe accumulator at the same rate at which the energy of ,th'b

'rime mover is being suppliedto the accumuator E, the water issuing from the jets, h, h, &c., will be delivered to the tank D in such quantities as the pump B will deliver during equal intervals of time to the accumulator E and thus a constant pneumatic ressure in the bell F and clearance-space o' the accumulator, will be maintained. The ther- 'mic effect, however, of the water pumped into the accumulator E as it circulates through the heated water-jackets, C, C, while the combustion motor is in operation, will be to increase the air pressure in themcumulator in proportion to the rise in temperature of the 11 uid contained in theae; cumulator minus t e loss of heat due to radiation. The quantity of air however, taken into the accumulator, must be more than that which could exist when taken into the latter at normal atmospheric pressure and to effect this surplus of, air, a quantity of the same must be pumped up first into the accumulator under pressure prior to the water this being to provide a large surplus of air 'under pressure so as to afiord sufiicien't reserve, commensurate with volume in the ac- I cumulator E. The amount of power stored in the accumulator is suflicient to operate the motor after'the ump' has ceased to operate, for a considerabl period of time, and the accumulator is made of sufficient capacity to accomplish this result, In light loads however, and when the secondary motor is receiving but little water fromthe accumulator E, the pressure in the accumulator E will rise to a critical value, and as a, means for obviating this difficulty, I provide a safetyvalve L which opens upon a predetermined increase of pressure beyond that of the normal in the accumulator E, so as to emit of a discharge of water into the tank so as to constitute a sort of overflow or safety-valve for the accumulator E, and in the event of too great a supply of Water being discharged into the tank D by the elastic pressure of the accumulator E, I 'rovide a by-pass connection 1 and stop-Va ve which delivers the water directly to the water-jackets C, C or the suction b of the pump through the by-pass connection K direct. Bythis arrangement, I am enabled to keep the combustion motors A, A, o crating at a constant speed though the mec anism through which the power is transmitted to the axle of the vehicle may be at rest without having to have resort to the usual coupling mechanisms, such as friction clutches and the like.

Reduction earing is provided, which consists of a sma pinion m carried on the shaft of the impact wheels and meshing with a large gear n fixed to the axle of the vehicle. The safety or by-p'ass valve L may. be set at such a pressure relative to'the power of the engine, that when the pressure in the accumulator is such as to raise the same, the engine driving the pump will slow down due 40 to the load, and therebyv run slowly while the by-pass valve is raised and thus save'fuel.

It will benoted that the motors may run free in going down grade, as the pump and impact wheels are not mechanically connected, and since there are no pistons, or water to be driven thereby, the motors will not act asa brake on the vehicle, aswould be the case in other forms of motors.

As a means for automatically controlling the cock H, by the s)eed of the vehicle, whereby the hand regulation above referred to may be supplemented, 'I provide a cen,

.trilugal governor M coupled up with the motor shaft with a systemof bell-crank le-v vers and links as clearly shown in the plan Fig. 2, with a segmental'rack N,-which engages a pinion O secured to the cock H in a manner whereby the centrifugal force of the governorM upon the rotation of the secondary motor, will swing the segmental rack N into a positionwhereby. the cock H .will be rotated in the ,manner already described for the operation of the" same by the levers H thereby turningon a jet either to the large impact wheel g, the intermediate impact wheel '9 or the smaller impact wheel 9', according to the amount .of centrifugalforce imparted to the segmental rack N by the governor .M. The action of the governor will have the effect of bringing the cock H, and the, operaty ingle'ver connected'therewith into a new position, upon the operator releasing the hand lever, and in the event of the latter being manipulated while the torsional force due to the governor is u onthe cock H, the twisting force upon t e hand. lever will indicate the acceleration of the vehicle either negative or positive. It will be thus understood by this feature. of my invention, that I am enabled to maintain a constant speed for the vehicle through the instrumentality of the governor in the event of the vehicle not being under the control of the operator. This will be found of considerable value when it is desired to have the hands of the operator free while the car is being propelled man even road at a meanvelocity.-

Having fully described my invention so that those skilled in the art could apply and use thesame, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In power transmitting apparatus, the

combination of-an accumulator of sufficient capacity to act as a storage of power as set forth,'means for delivering liquid to said accumulator, a motor in operative relation with respect to the accumulator and embodying a plurality of rotary power elements of diifer- .ent diameters with respect to each other,

nozzles coactive' with said power elements and capable of a uniform jet velocity, and provision for independently placing said nozzles in communication with the accumulator.

2. In'power transmitting apparatus, the

combination-of an internal combustion engine having a liquid-cooled cylinder, an accumulator, a pump driven by the engine and having its intake communicating with the liquid space of said cylinder and its discharge delivering to the accumulator, a motor comprising a plurality of impact wheels of rela-' tively different diameters, provision for actuating the motor by the liquid supplied from the accumulator, and means for conveying the liquid back to the engine cylinder. .3. In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of-an internal combustion engine having a liquidmooled cylinder, an accumulator, ,a pump driven by the engine and having its intake communicating with the liquid-space of said cylinder, and its discharge delivering to the accumulator, a motor'embodying a plurality of rotary elements of relatively different diameters assembled togethr, noz'zles coactive with said elements,

means for independently placing the nozzles in communication with the accumulator, and means for conveying the liquid back to the engine cylinder.

4. In power transmitting apparatus, the

combination of an accumulator, means for delivering liquid to said accumulator, a motor embodying a series of rotary power eleiments of different diameters and-also reversing provision, a corresponding series of nozzles, and a revoluble cock common to all the nozzles and containing diflerentially located apertures adapted upon the turning of the cock to successively and independently bring the apertures into position with respect to their nozzles and thereby independently place, each of the latter in communication with the accumulator.

5. In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of a prime mover and a secondary hydraulic power a paratus involving a plurality of impact whee s on a single shaft, an accumulator and means operable by the prime mover for providing the accumulator with 'a hydraulic power medium, said impact wheels being relatively of different diameters, a controller for delivering said power me dium to either of said wheels at approximately the same force, whereby the speed and tor ue of the said power shaft maybe varied t rough said plurality of wheels by 7 said controller while an approximate constant efliciency of conversion of static into kinetic energy of said secondary power apparatus is maintained.

= 6. In, power transmittin apparatus, the combination of an accumu ator, means for delivering liquid to said accumulator, a motor. embodying a series of power elements of 39 diflerent diameters, means for delivering fluid from said accumulator to either of said power elements, and means for controlling the delivery of said fluid.

7. In power transmitting apparatus, the 40 .combination of an accumulator, means for delivering liquid to said accumulator and storing the same under pressure therein, a .motor embodying a series of power elements of indifferent diameters, means for delivering 145 fluid from said accumulator to either of said power elements, means for controlling the 'delivery'of said fluid, and means for re-using the same fluid for the purpose of transmitting power.

8. The combination of the'running gear of a vehicle, an engine mounted thereon, a

pump driven by said engine, an accumulator,

a motor embodying a series of rotating members of varying diameters, and means for driving said running gear through the instrumentality of said motor.

9. In combination, a vehicle, an engine mounted thereon, an. accumulator, a pump drivenby said engine and adapted to compress fluid in said accumulator, a motor comprising impact wheels of varying diameters adapted to receive fluid irom said accumulator, a reducing ear: connecting said motor i to a-driving whe of the vehicle, and means for controlling the flow of fluid from said accumulator to said motor.

10. In combination, a vehicle, an engine mounted thereon, a pump driven by said engine, an accumulator, a series of motors having different power ca acities relative to each other, an elastic an a liquid medium for actuating either of said motors through the instrumentalities of the engine, pump and accumulator, means for controlling the operation of said motors, and means for transmitting the power generated by the engine, through the motors to a wheel of the vehicle.

11. A rotary prime mover having several rings of vanes or buckets all rotatable at the same angular velocity butat various )eripheral velocities, w'th automatic" mechanism for directing fluid under pressure successively to different rings of vanes, substantially as described.

12. In a motor, the combination of impact wheels of relatively different diameters, means connecting said wheels together, and

means for conducting an actuating agent to said wheels.

13. In a motor, the combmation of impact wheels of relatively different diameters hxed to a common shaft, and means for conducting an actuating agent toeach of said wheels.

14. In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of an accumulator, means for establishing a predetermined elastic ressure and thereafter introducing a liqui within said accumulator whereby the liquid will be impressed by said elastic pressure, a motor comprising impact wheels of relatively different diameters, and provision for actuating said motor by the liquid supplied from the accumulator.

15. In power transmitting apparatus, the

combination of an accumulator, means for establishing a predetermined elastic )ressure and thereafter introducing a liqui within said accumulator whereby the liquid will be impressed with said elastic pressure, a motor in operative relation with respect to the accumulatorand comprising a plurality of rotary power elements of relatively diflerent diameters, nozzles coactive with each of said power elements, and means for independently lacing the nozzles in communication with t 1e accumulator.

16. In combination, a vehicle, an engine mounted thereon, an accumulator constructed to subject the liquid contained therein to elastic ressure, a pump driven by said engine an adapted to compress fluid in said accumulator, an impact motor adapted to receive fluid from sa1d accumulator, a reduciiw gear connecting said motor to a driving whee of the vehicle, and means for controlling the flow of fluid from said accumulator to said motor.

17. In combination, a vehicle, an engine mounted thereon, a pump driven by said engine, an accumulator constructed to subject the liquid contained therein toelastic pressure, an im act motor, means'for actuating ter introducing a liqui lator whereby a liquid will be impressed by said motor y the agent stored insaid accumulator, means for reversing the motor, means for controlling the speed of the motor, means for driving the vehicle through the instrumentality of the motor, comprising reducing gear between the motor and the driven wheel of the vehicle, the motor 'and running gear beingmecham'cally disconnected from the engine and pumping. mechanism. 18. In a power transmitting apparatus,

the combination of an accumulator, means for establishing an elastic dpressure and thereafwithin said accumusaid ressure, a motor having impact wheels of re ativelydifferent diameters, means for conducting the liquid to one of said wheels and delivering the same at the peri hery thereof, and means for cutting off li ui from running gear, .an. accumulator, means forsaid wheel and conducting the liquid to another of said wheel's. I 19. In combination, a vehicle having a establishing an elastic dpressure and thereafter introducing a liqui within said accumulator whereby the liquid will be impressed by said elastic pressure, an imp act motor having a number of wheels of relatively different diameters, rovision for actuating said motor by theliquid supplied from the accumulator,

provision for reversing the direction of rotation of said motor, means for controlling the delivery of liquid-to said motor, means for conveying the liquid after it passes the motor, back to the first named means, and means for reducing the speed between the motor and the running gear.

20. A rotary prime mover having several rotatable simultaneously at rings of vanes al the same angular velocity but at various peripheral velocities; with mechanism for directing fluid under pressure to different rings of vanes, substantially as described.

' pressure to different rings of vanes, substan- 21. A rotary prime mover having several rings of vanes of different diameters; with antomatic mechanism for directing fluid under tially as described. I

22. A rotary prime mover having several rings of vanes of different diameters; with mechanism for directirfiig fluid under ressure successively to the di erent rings 0 vanes, substantially as described.

23. In combination a] prime mover comprising a series of impact wheels or elements of relatively different diameters, and means for directing impelling flu'id to any one of the impact wheels.

24. Incombination a prime mover com-' prising a series of impact wheels or elements of relatively different diameters, a device for communication with the directing fluid to anyone of the impact wheels, and automatic means controlling the position of said device.

25. In combination a prime mover comprising a series of impact wheels or elements of relatively different diameters, means for directing fluid to any one of the impact wheels, and a governor for controlling the position of said means.

26. In combination a motor embodying a plurality of rotary elements of relatively different diameters, and means for directing a jet of fluid to any one of said elements.

27. In combination a motor embodying a plurality of rotary elements of relatively diflerent diameters, and means for directing a jet of fluid successively to said elements.

plurality of rotary elements of relatively different diameters, means for directing a jet ofv fluid successively to or against said elements, and .a governor-for automatically varying theposition of said jet.

29. In combination a motor embodyinga "plurality of rotary elements of relatively different diameters, means for directing a.jet of fluid to any one of said elements, and means for generating said jet of fluid.

30. In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of a fluid pump, a motor comprising impact wheels of relatively different diameters, and provision for actuating said .motor by fluid supplied from the pump.

28. In combination a motor embodying a v 32. In power transmitting apparatus, the

combination of a fluid pump, a motor comprising a plurality of rotary power elements of relatively different diameters, nozzles re-- spectively' co-acting with said power elements, and meansfor placing any nozzle in ump.

. 33, In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of an internal combustion engine having a fluid cooled cylinder, a fluid pump driven by the engine and having its intake communicating with the fluid s ace of said cylinder, 'a motor comprising a p urahty of connected power wheels of relatively different diameters, means for directing the fluid sup' lied from-the against the power whee s, and means for plonveyingthe fluid back to the engine cyliner. C

34. In power transmitting apparatus, the combination of an internal combustion enump successively,

gine having a fluid cooled cylinder, 'a fluid pump driven by the engine and having its intake communicating with the fluid space of said cylinder, a motor embodying a pluadapted upon the turning of the cock to" sue cessively and independently bring the apertures in position with respect to their nozzles and thereby independently )lace each of the I latter in communication with the pump.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 0 two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK M. ASHLEY.

rality of connected rotary elements of relatively different diameters assembled together, means for directing fluid from the pump successively to said rotary elements, and means for conveying the fluid back to the engine cylinder.

' 35. In power transmitting apparatus, the l combination of a pump, a motor embodying a series of rotary ower elements of different diameters, and a so reversing provision, a corresponding series of nozzles, and a revoluble cock common to all the nozzles, and I containing differentially located apertures I Witnesses:

PHILIP K. STERN, HELEN E. MAHER. 

